Survival saw anyone tried/tested?

[bettersafethansorry]

I found this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steel-Wire-Sa ... 43b98e85ab

I know that its a cheap hongkong one but i just like the concept of how lightweight and packable this will be. what i need to know has anyone tried these or is there an alternative that i should consider?

M

[Yorkshire Andy]

I'd rather have a folding pruning saw
With the wire ones take care to keep it pulled tight if you kink it bin it only cut timber so the Cut will open and not trap the saw if doing green wood cut into a candle to lube the wire

[Survivalist85]

As Andy said a folding saw would be much better. If you insist on going down the wire saw route try the Web-Tex Warrior Survival Saw or others very similar on ebay. they are much better than the simple ones.

Hope this helps

[EddieEnzyme]

Hi,

I've never had a happy experience with one of those wire saw thingys.

As the above two members have suggested, you're much better off with a folding saw, a particularly good one is the Bahco Laplander. Mine's still going strong after 2 years of howking and they don't take up much space or weigh too much.

[Plymtom]

I have a chain version which seams much stronger than wire ones, but as has been said the folding saws are my preference, or a bow saw blade and make a handle on site.

[Briggs]

Every one of those saws I've tried has snapped at the finger rings.

I recently tried making a more robust version using a chainsaw blade with two ring handles to see how this would work. In theory I thought it should cut through timber well but in reality it's hard to get going and takes much more effort that a folding saw, so as the previous posters have said, the folding saw is the best option.

[dazthechippy]

Bahco Laplader all the way for me, about £15 from amazon. I use it a lot in the garden for prunign and also when i'm in the woods and notice a windfallen branch that would only be in the way if I didnt ahem "remove it".

laplander folds up small (ish) and fits into my rucksack.

[prepperG]

try using the wire saw as a bow saw, just attach to green branch, it works quite well. but i tend to use a folding saw and a small knife as less problematic if stopped compaired to survival knife or axe.

[bettersafethansorry]

thanks guys for BoB i think that Bahco Laplader will do nice plus i have my hatchet aswell. and as for Bug in i have full size saws anyway.

Saved me wasting some money there .

[northern bloke]

I've never had one of them chain or rope ones so cant comment but as others have said a folding saw would probably be the way to go, whats used in industry is usually a good indicator of a way to go and speaking as an ex-tree surgeon we always used Silky saws in a scabbard they are a bit pricey compared to some but good (having said that I have a cheap and nasty folding one I've had for about five years that's done its job around the garden just make sure its clean wood and not cutting near anything other than wood as they are so sharp it don't take much to loose the edge)

As a word of warning I've seen a few cases of people holding branches while cutting and underestimating how sharp they are and slipped and cut ligaments in the hand resulting in an operation needed.

One might say its pretty stupid to hold something your cutting but it was the nature of the job that you would hold it to throw the branch to clear an obstetrical below if you were not roping it down and when I was working in Austria you were not allowed to even use one unless you had one of them chain mail type gloves on that butchers use because of the danger.

If you see a tree surgeon working ask for a demo he will more than likely have a Silky that he guards with his life, I've seen a bloke get a smack in the mouth for sticking one into a lawn

Right Im babbling now Ill get my coat